RHP Chris Reitsma (Calgary, Alta.) as one of 17 players we accurately predicted would be the top Canadian selected in the annual amateur draft since we began. Reitsma was a first-round selection of the Boston Red Sox in 1996.

August 2, 2022

By Bob Elliott

Canadian Baseabll Network

Each year we try and answer some questions that the new draft 2023 draft class might have ….

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the purpose of this draft list?

A: This began in 1995 to promote baseball in Canada, creating interest in amateur players and alert people to potential players.

Q: Does my name appearing on a list assure me of being drafted?

A: No, the list is a compilation of opinions. Opinions change, the only opinions that really matters are those of the scouting director or area scout who is in the draft room, on draft day.

Q: What makes you an expert on ranking players?

A: Never claimed to be an expert, the list is compiled after conversations with scouting directors, cross checkers and area scouts both in Canada and the United States.

Q: How can a player go up on the list when he does not even play in during the winter months?

A: Players improve or players show well for scouts at an indoor workouts.

Q: It bothers me when a new list appears and I have dropped a few spots, is that natural?

A: The first time I accompanied Blue Jays scouts on the road in 1990 for four days we went to a game at Huntington Beach, Calif. for the state championships. Three future MLB general managers were there and when the pitcher came out to warm up everyone crowded around the screen with guns. I said to the one scout “shouldn’t we move away, we’re going to make the kid nervous?” The scout looked at me, raised an eyebrow and said in a tone a grade 2 student might use to one of her students “if this pitcher is going to get nervous in front of 15 scouts with guns, what is he going to do when he has to throw a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded in a one-run game, with 50,000 people booing him at Yankee Stadium?” Cold, but that’s the way the business is. If you choose baseball as a profession, or to help you get your education, there will be plenty of bumps in the road, a lot bumpier than a list of names. Learn to not let it bother you. Either cope, or ignore. Far greater worries lie ahead than dropping a few spots on a list.

Q: What can I do to get my name on the list?

A: Impress scouts.

Q: Why would a scout tell you whom he would take in the draft?

A: He doesn’t. The question we always ask is who do you think will be the top Canadians drafted, not which Canadian will your team hope to select?

Q: Why are so many Ontario players on the list?

A: Heading into the 2022 draft — and counting when only Canadians attending school in the US (1985-90) were eligible for the draft — Ontario has had the most players drafted each year except for 1997 and 2004 when British Columbia had the most drafted. Ontario was second. The reason? Population density. Total number of players drafted since 1985: Ontario 425, British Columbia 257, Quebec 111, Alberta 90, Saskatchewan 24, Nova Scotia 15, New Brunswick 13, Manitoba 13, Newfoundland 4 and Prince Edward Island 2.

Q: Has the draft being shortened to 40 rounds from 20 had an affect on the number of Canadians drafted?

Yes, just as the elimination of draft and follow (which allowed a club to talk with a player for 51 weeks unless he went to a four-year school) process cut back on the number of Canadian, so did the reduction of rounds. There were roughly eight Canadians chosen in rounds 41-to-50. As the saying goes 20 rounds this year was four times better than last year’s five-round draft.

Q: Do scouts go off talent or results?

A: Few go off results, but signability — will the player attend a four-year university or will he sign before the deadline? (If he attends a four-year school he is not eligible to be drafted after his junior year ... or unless he is over the age of 21..) Does he want too more money than the club thinks he is worth. It is an important an issue as projectability and ability. The list is based on talent as it is difficult to separate rumours from truth on what a player asks a club for. If a player asks Team A for $X amount … it’s up to the team or the player to say it’s too high or just right.

Q: Can a player expect to be drafted if he isn’t on your list?

A: Yes, it happens, for some, each and every June.

Q: How can Player A be ranked higher than Player B when he doesn’t play as well in my opinion?

A: Some scouts look at projectability, that is, what they expect the player to be 4-5 years down the road and some players may have already peaked. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Q: Why do you include where players rank from other lists on your list?

A: Everyone doesn’t have access to the other lists. The more information the better.

Q: How accurate have you been with your lists?

2022

1. Jacob Zibin 1. Dylan O’Rae

2. Adam Maier 2. Lamar King

3. Lamar King 3. David McCabe

4. Eli Saul 4. Nate Ochoa

5. Matthew Grabmann 5. Jonah Tong

Ranked in the top 5: (four drafted): 80%

Ranked in the top 20: ( 10): 50%

Overall: 15 (13): 86.7%

Drafted and free-agent signs 20 (16): 80%

2021

1. Tyler Black 1. Tyler Black

2. Calvin Ziegler 2. Calvin Ziegler

3. Denzel Clarke 3. Denzel Clarke

4. Eric Cerantola 4. Mitch Bratt

5. Jordan Marks 5. Eric Cerantola

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 80%

Ranked in the top 12: (11): 91.7%

Overall: 18 (17): 94.4%

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

2020

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Owen Caissie 1. Owen Caissie

2. Jordan Nwogu 2. Trei Cruz

3. David Calabrese 3. David Calabrese

4. Noah Skirrow 4. Jordan Nwogu

5. Calvin Ziegler 5, Logan Hofmann

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 60%

Ranked in the top 10: (5): 100%

Overall: 5 (5): 100%

2019

Final Project list Top Canucks drafted

1. Dasan Brown 1. Dasan Brown

2. Josh Burgmann 2. Jacob Sanford

3. Jacob Sanford 3. Matt Brash

4. Edouard Julien 4. Josh Burgmann

5. Matt Brash 5. Adam Macko

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 20: (15): 75%

Overall: 25 (27): 92.6%

2018

Final Project list Top Canucks drafted

1. Noah Naylor 1. Noah Naylor
2. Tristan Pompey 2. Tristan Pompey
3. RJ Freure 3. Kole Cottam
4. Eric Cerantola 4. RJ Freure
5. Nick Trogrlic-Iverson 5. Erik Sabrowski

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 15: (10): 67%

Overall: 21 (15): 71.4%

2017

Final Project list Top Canucks drafted

1. Landon Leach 1. Landon Leach

2. Adam Hall 2. Adam Hall

3. Zach Pop 3. Zach Pop

4. Clayton Keyes 4. Daniel Procopio

5. Jason Willow 5. Jonathan Lacroix

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 20: (12): 60%

Overall: 23 (20): 86.9%

2016

Final Project list Top Canucks drafted

1. Cal Quantrill 1. Cal Quantrill

2. Andrew Yerzy 2. Andrew Yerzy

3. Curtis Taylor 3. Curtis Taylor

4. Jordan Balazovic 4. Charles LeBlanc

5. Austin Shields 5. Jordan Balazovic

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 15: (14): 93.3%

Overall: 27 (24): 88.9%

2015

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Josh Naylor 1. Josh Naylor

2. Mike Soroka 2. Mike Soroka

3. Demi Orimoloye 3. Jeff Degano

4. Jeff Degano 4. Miles Gordon

5. Ryan Kellogg 5. Demi Orimoloye

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 20: (16): 80%

Overall: 30 (25): 83.3%

2014

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Gareth Morgan 1. Gareth Morgan

2. Brock Dykxhoorn 2. Brock Dykxhoorn

3. Zach Pop 3. Jordan Romano

4. Mitch Robinson 4. Jordan Procyshen

5. Michael Foster 5. Chris Shaw

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 15: (10): 66.7%

Overall: 16 (17): 94.1%

2013

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Rob Zastryzny 1. Rob Zastryzny

2. Tyler O’Neill 2. Tyler O’Neill

3. Cal Quantrill 3. Nick Pivetta

4. Nick Pivetta 4. Travis Seabrooke

5. Malik Collymore 5. Malik Collymore

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 20: (15): 75%

Overall: 21 (21): 100%

2012

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Ryan Kellogg 1. Eric Wood

2. Julian Service 2. David Otterman

3. Dayton Dawe 3. Rowan Wick

4. Derek Jones 4. Jeff Gibbs

5. Brock Dykxhoorn 5. Maxx Tissenbaum

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 20: (15): 75%

Overall: 26 (25): 96%

2011

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Tom Robson 1. Tom Robson

2. Dustin Houle 2. Trevor Gretzky

3. Jesen Dygestile-Therrien 3. Dustin Houle

4. Skylar Janisse 4. Chase Larsson

5. Vaughn Covington 5. Vaughn Covington

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 25: (20): 80%

Overall: 35 (29): 82.9%

2010

Final Projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Jameson Taillon 1. Jameson Taillon

2. Kellin Deglan 2. Kellin Deglan

3. James Paxton 3. Marcus Knecht

4. Marcus Knecht 4. Chris Bisson

5. Chris Bisson 5. James Paxton

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 30 (19): 63%

Overall 32 (29): 91.0%

2009
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. James Paxton 1. James Paxton

2. Jake Eliopoulos 2. Jake Eliopoulos

3. Josh Garton 3. Wes Darvil

4. Adam Nelubowich 4. Steven Inch

5. Mitch Clarke 5. Chad Stang

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 30 (23): 77%

Overall 43 (36): 83.7%

2008

Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Brett Lawrie 1. Brett Lawrie

2. Jordan Meaker 2. Andrew Albers

3. Carter Morrison 3. Brad Furdal

4. Lionel Morill 4. David Francis

5. Mike Crouse 5. Marcel Champaigne

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 25 (19): 76%

Overall 32 (29): 91%

2007
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Phillippe Aumont 1. Phillippe Aumont

2. Kyle Lotzkar 2. Kyle Lotzkar

3. Trystan Magnuson 3. Trystan Magnuson

4. Lars Davis 4. Lars Davis

5. Tim Smith 5. Mitch Hodge

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 25 (20): 80%

Overall 35 (27): 77.1%

2006
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Kyle Orr 1. Kyle Orr

2. Jonathan Waltenbury 2. Jonathan Baksh

3. Shayne Willson 3. Jonathan Waltenbury

4. Jimmy VanOstrand 4. Jimmy VanOstrand

5. Chris Kissock 5. Chris Toneguzzi

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 80%

Ranked in the top 30 (20): 67%

Overall 38 (31): 82%

2005
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Nick Weglarz 1. Chris Robinson

2. James Avery 2. Nick Weglarz

3. Chris Robinson 3. James Avery

4. Scott Richmond 4. Brad Cuthbertson

5. Brad Cuthbertson 5. Chris Leroux

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 30 (20): 67%

Overall 43 (35): 81%

2004
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette 1. Mike Nickeas

2. Mike Saunders 2. Craig Langille

3. Mike Nickeas 3. Philippe-Alexandre Valiquette

4. Alexandre Periard 4. Sebastien Boucher

5. Sebastien Boucher 5. Mike Saunders

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 30 (21): 70%

Overall 38 (32): 84%

2003
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Brooks McNiven 1. Brooks McNiven

2. Jamie Romak 2. Jamie Romak

3. Dustin Molleken 3. Cory Stuart

4. Ryan Braun 4. Ryan Braun

5. Cory Stuart 5. Matt Linder

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Ranked in the top 30 (23): 77%

Overall 46 (36): 73%

2002
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Adam Loewen 1. Adam Loewen

2. Jeff Francis 2. Jeff Francis

3. Jonathan Lockwood 3. Joey Votto

4. David Davidson 4. Jesse Crain

5. Chris Robinson 5. Chris Leroux

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 80%

Top 30 (24): 80%

Overall 48 (35): 73%

2001
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. John Axford 1. Adam Stern

2. Lee Delfino 2. Judd Richardson

3. Adam Stern 3. John Cole

4. John Picco 4. Steve Nelson

5. Steve Nelson 5. Lee Delfino

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Top 24 (24): 100%*

Overall 44 (33): 75%

*(Rich Harden, a 2000 draft, signed before the close period of the 2001 draft, thereby making him ineligible).

2000
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Scott Thorman 1. Scott Thorman

2. Michael Reiss 2. Shawn Hill

3. Shawn Hill 3. Nom Siriveaw

4. Stephen Reiss 4. Cory Agar

5. Jordan Gerk 5. Geoff Smart

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Top 25 (17): 68%

Overall 46 (28): 61%

1999
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Reggie Laplante 1. Justin Morneau

2. Justin Morneau 2. Shawn Hill

3. Brad Rogers 3. Phil Devey

4. Jason Bay 4. Reggie Laplante

5. Alex Groleau 5. Todd Shiyuk

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 80%

Top 25 (16): 64%

Overall 46 (26): 57%

1998
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Ryan Grantham 1. Lee Delfino

2. Lee Delfino 2. Tim Nelson

3. Kareem Johnson 3. Steve Murray

4. Dustin Emberley 4. Ryan Grantham

5. Steve Murray 5. Dustin Emberley

Percentage of players drafted in any order:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Top 20 (16): 80%

Overall 31 (20): 65%

1997
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Kevin Nicholson 1. Kevin Nicholson

2. Aaron Myette 2. Ntema Ndungidi

3. Ntema Ndungidi 3. Aaron Myette

4. Brad Drew 4. Robbie Vael

5. Jason Gooding 5. Jason Gooding

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 100%

Top 20 (14): 70%

Overall 41 (19): 46%

1996
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Chris Reitsma 1. Chris Reitsma

2. Yan Lachapelle 2. Yan Lachapelle

3. Cody McKay 3. Chris Mears

4. Chris Mears 4. Cody McKay

5. Jeff Guiel 5. Greg Heffernan

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 80%

Top 20 (13): 65%

Overall 40 (19): 48%

1995
Final projected list Top Canucks drafted

1. Ryan Dempster 1. Ryan Dempster

2. Aaron Myette 2. Cody McKay

3. Yan LaGrandeur 3. Blaine Forton

4. Trevor Bishop 4. Chad Ricketts

5. Sean Riley 5. Pierre-Luc LaForest

Percentage of players drafted:

Ranked in the top 5: 80%

Top 20 (13): 65%

Overall 31 (21): 68%

FAQs ... updated after 2022 draft